Automobile signaling system



Dec. 16, 1930.

M. H. sHoENBERG E'rAL 'TOMOBILE SIGNALNG SYSTEM Filed Oct. 5', 1927 ZQU@ R EYS nieuwe Dec. 16, 193e UNITED STATES PATENT 'or-FICE SCHON' ASSIGNOR T0 SAID SHOENBERG AUTOMOBILE SIGNA'LING SYSTEM Application led October 5, 1927. Serial No. 224,123.

This invention relates generally to electrical systems for effecting visual signaling,

and is especially adapted for use on motor vehicles.

It is an object of this invention to'devise a simpleandA effective signaling system which may be used in conjunction with the ordinar tail light of an automobile, thus dispensing with the use of a separate stop 1o light.

It is a further object of this invention to utilize an electro-thermal circuitinterrupter in conjunction with an automobile stop signaling system of the type which utilizes the ordinary automobile tail 'li ht.

It is a further object o this invention to devise a system which will utilize the ignition switch of an automobile for controlling a flashing signal lamp, in conjunction with. other means'which w1ll permit normal continuous burning of the lamp so that it may function as a tail light.

.It is a further object of this invention to combine a stop signal for an automobile with a tail light constructed in such a Way as to insure the stop signal being operative at all times, and to 'utilize an interrupting device with the system for flashing the tail light, the interrupting device being so constructed and combined with the system so as-to insure burning ofthe tail light even tho the interrupting device becomesl inoperative.

Furt er objects of the inventionY will appear from the following description in which we have set forth the preferred embodiment of our invention. It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents consistent with the state of the prior art.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a` circuit diagram illustrating diagrammatically the system of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a tail light suitable for incorporation with the 'system shownin-Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevationalview of the tail light shown in Fig., 2.

The invention maybe brieiy outlined as `comprising -a `visual electrical signaling means, as for example an electrical lamp, which is adaptedl to be energized from a suitable sourceof current such as the standard 6 or 12 volt storage battery of an automobile. For controlling current supplied to the lamp a two-way switch is provided which is usually actuated by somel member, such as the brake pedal, which is moved by an operator to control movements of the automobile. For the two positions of this switch,

there are' two current paths thru which current may low from the; battery for energizing the lamp. .In one current path a circu1t interrupting device is inserted so that for this position of the switch, the signal lamp will be repeatedly Hashed. In the other current path we prefer to insert a manually operable switch, which when closed will normally keep the signal lamp burning steadily. Thus when the brake pedal or vother member controlling the two-way switch is in normal position during running of the automobile,- the signal lamp will be either entirely disconnected, as for driving during day time, or willbe burned steadily as for night driving. When the brake pedal is depressed as during stopping of the automobile, the circuit interrupting device is effective to repeatedly Hash the lamp, thus indicatin to an automobile in the rear that a stop is eing made. The circuit interrupting device which we employ is vpreferably of the electrical thermal type and operates continuously as long as the ignition switch of the automobile is on.

Referring to the drawing for a more complete description of the invention, there is l shown a suitable electrical signaling device such as an electrical lamp 10 which is adapted to be energized from a suitable source of current such as a battery '11. This battery may be the-usual 6 or 12 volt storage battery Y used upon ignition and ,starting systems-of,

automobiles. Interposed between the lamp 10 and the battery 11, there'V is a switch 12 v adapted to be controlled by an operator, and

lan automatic controlling device 13 adapted to supplyA recurrently varying current to the larg `for flashing the same. g e `manually operableswitch 12 may take a numbercf dierent forms, but for the operator, but is preferably connected to a control member of an automobile so as to be actuated automatically during the course of driving the car. For example we have shown a mechanical connection .21 between' the switch member 19 and a. brake rod 22, this brakerod bein of course moved by the usual foot brake pe al 23. The switch 12 is preferably biased toward its normal position, say in a position to keep contact 16 closed with respect to contact 18, by simple means such as a biasing spring 24.`

The automatic controlling or Vcircuit interrupting device 13 preferably utilizes a pair of relatively movable contacts 26 and '27. These contacts are. adapted to be recurrently opened and closed by an electrical thermal motive element, as for example a bi-metallic strip'28 carrying one of the'contacts 26 and 27 upon its free end. Heat is supplied to the bi-metallic strip 28 as by means of a resistance 29 wound about the strip and in close thermal contact with the same.

With the brake pedal 23 in normal position corresponding to normal running of the automobile contacts 16 and 18 of switch 12 are closed. l)uring night driving it is necessary to have a lamp burning in the rear of an automobile, both for the purpose of -warning approaching motorists and in order toilluminate the automobile license plate. -The use of a two-way switch 12 makes it possible to utilize the lam 10 both for the purposerof signaling a bra e application to a following motorist, and for taking the place of the usual automobile tail light. Thus one conductor 31 leading from lamp 10 is connected to the switch contact 16, andk contact 18 is connected by means Vof conductor 32 to one contact of a manually operable switch 33, the other contact of this switch being connected to the positive terminal of battery 11 as by means of conductor 34. y The other steadily.

-When the brake pedal 23 is depressed and switch contacts 16 and 17 are closed, another current path is provided thru the circuit interminal of resistance 29 has been shown as contact 27. Contact 26v is connected to one .l

contact of the automobile engine ignition switch 37, by means oi conductor 38, the other contact of the ignition switch being connected' to battery 11 by means of the conductor 34.

While the circuits for supplying the lamp- 10 may be com leted by a separate conductor returning to t wit the usu groun connection 39.

' In Figs. 2 and 3 we have indicated a suit.-

-able form of tail lamp which ma be used in the system described above. or example this lamp has an outer casing 41 having a front lens 42, this lens being usually colored red. l In conjunction with the casing 41, there isusuallysupplied a bracket 43 ior holding a license plate 44, and the lower portion of the lamp casing is provided with a window46 for illuminating the license plate.

In operating this system upon closing switch 37 for startin the automobile engine, a circuitis complete which energizes the resistance 29 of the circuit interrupter 13. This circuit may be traced from battery 11, by way of conductor 34, i ition switch 37, conductor 38,- normally c osed contacts 26 and 27, bi-metallic strip 2,8, resistance 29, and

e battery 112 we referably sim lify the s stem b provlding attery 11` energization of the resistance 29. If the 1 I brake pedal 23 is now depressed to apply the automobile brakes, contacts 16 and 17 are closed and a circuit is completed which supplies recurrently varying current to the lamp 10 to yflash the same, thus indicating stop ing of the automobile vto other motorists. is circuit may be traced as followsz-from battery 11 thru conductor 34, ignition switch 37,

.conductor 38, contacts 26 and 27, conductor 40, contacts 16 and 17,- conductor 31,lamp 10, and from thence back tol the battery 11 thru ground connection 35. Since the contacts 26 and`27 are to be'recurrently o ened and closed, the lamp 10 will be accor ngly iashed on and oi. 'During night driving when it is desired to keep thelam 10 burning steadily, switch`33 ils'clos'ed w ch completes a circuit which may be traced as follows :from battery 11, conductor 34, switch 33, conductor 32, switch contacts 16 and 18, conductor 31, lamp 10, and from thence back to the battery 11 thru ground connection 35. If the brake pedal 23 is depressed while switch 33 is closed, switch contacts 16 and 18 are opened to interrupt supplying of current thru' switch 33, and closing of switches 16 and 17 causes the lamp to flash as explained above.

The system which we have described above is of extreme simplicity and may be used over long periods without requiring replacement of the parts. The use of a single lamp both for the automobile tail light and for signaling purposes, eliminates the necessity of having a separate stop.,0r signal lamp. The use of a thermal type of circuit interrupting device makes it possible to dispense with more expensive and less reliable mechanically driven devices. Several features of safety are also inherent in the system. For example an automobile user will not be apt to neglect replacing a burned out lamp since the laws of most States require' a tail ligilvit to bev displayed during night driving. urthermore if the resistance 29 of the circuit interrupting device should become burned out or open circuited, contacts 26 and 27 will remain closed and the lamp 10 will not be de-energized when the brake pedal 23 is depressed.

We claim: 1. In an automobile signaling system in combination, an ignition switch, and a thermostatic fiasher switch having `its heating coil and normally closed contacts in series with said ignition switch, a si al lamp and a two-way driver operated switch connected to said lamp and having front and back contacts, said back contacts being normall closed and said front contacts being norma ly olpen and moved to closed position upon app cation of the brakes to connect said lamp in arallel with said coil to flash said lamp an a manual switch controlling the circuit to said lamp through said back contact for continuous lighting of said lamp.

2. In a signaling system adapted to be used with a motor vehicle having an ignition switch, a signal lamp, a thermostatic flasher switch having its heatin coil and normally closed contacts connecte in series with said ignition switch, a driver operated switch havin front and back contacts and connected to Y said lamp, said front contacts connected to said heating coil so that said signal lam is connected between said intermediate contact and the end of said coil which is connected to said source.

4. In an automobile signaling system, an ignition switch, a signal lamp and a thermostatic flasher switch having a heating coil, the heating coil and contacts of said thermostatic switch being connected in series with said` ignition switch, a manual switch for normally controlling the circuit of the signal lamp and a brake operated switch controlling the manual switch circuit and movedl to connect the signal lamp in parallel with the heating coil of the thermostatic switch upon application of the brakes.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

MILTON H. SHOENBERG. LESTER SCHN. 

